The Intended Victim Read online

  Plus, she wasn’t sure she wanted to hear the answer.

  “Do you want to go through more files?” she demanded instead.

  He didn’t even glance toward the boxes she’d stacked near the window to clear the coffee table for dinner. “Not tonight.”

  She felt excitement curl through the pit of her stomach. He was looking at her in a way she remembered. One that had always made her tremble with anticipation.

  “Do you have plans with Jax?”

  “Nope.” He placed his arm along the back of the sofa, his fingers lightly brushing her shoulder.

  She cleared a strange lump from her throat. “Your mother?”

  “Nope.” He leaned forward, surrounding her with the warm scent of male skin and soap. “Tonight I’m all yours.”

  There were more curls of excitement. “What am I supposed to do with you?”

  His fingers slipped beneath her braid, teasing the sensitive skin of her nape. “What do you want to do with me?”

  Suddenly, Remi understood the meaning of a “loaded question.”

  She could think of a lot of things she wanted to do with Ash Marcel. Most of them involved his clothes off, a can of Cool Whip, and a cherry. It was an image that had been implanted in her brain the first time she’d ever caught sight of him.

  “Honestly?” she asked.

  “Yeah.”

  “I’m not sure.”

  An expression of satisfaction settled on his face. Clearly, he was pleased by her fluttering bemusement. “Then we’ll start with an easier question.”

  She found herself swaying forward. As if she was being sucked in by the sheer force of his personality. Or maybe it was the potent beauty of his male features.

  “That sounds dangerous,” she breathed.

  “Only a little dangerous.” His fingers moved to stroke over the pulse hammering at the base of her throat. “Do you still want me?”

  Heat rushed to her cheeks. She hadn’t expected him to be so blunt. “I’m not dead,” she muttered.

  “Thank God.” His hand cupped her cheek. “But that doesn’t answer my question.”

  Remi lowered her lashes, trying to hide her expressive eyes. “Ash, there’s not a woman with a pulse who wouldn’t want you.”

  His fingers tightened on her cheek. “There’s only one woman I care about.” His thumb brushed the stubborn line of her jaw. “Tell me. Do you want me?”

  She didn’t know why he needed her to say the words, but it was obviously important to him.

  “Yes.” She forced herself to speak the truth. “I want you.”

  “Good,” he rasped, his fingers tugging at the band around the end of her braid to release her hair. He smiled as the heavy curtain spilled over her shoulders, threading his fingers through the dark strands. “I love the feel of your hair. Ebony silk.”

  “I keep thinking I should cut it off,” Remi said, not sure why she was babbling but unable to stop herself. “It’s constantly in the way.”

  “Sacrilege,” Ash growled, tugging a curl. “Do you know how many nights I’ve spent fantasizing about the feel of your hair, brushing against my bare chest?”

  Her breath tangled in her throat. “Why would your chest be bare in your fantasy?”

  A slow, wicked smile curved his lips. “Because you stripped off my clothes, of course.”

  She trembled, barely remembering to breathe as his head lowered until their faces were just inches apart.

  In the past, their lovemaking had been more than mere sex. It had been a glorious mixture of affection and pleasure and sheer fun. Some evenings, they barely got through the front door before they were yanking off their clothes with eager haste. And other nights, she would spend an hour peeling off each article of his clothing, exploring his body with her lips and tongue.

  Unable to resist temptation, she slowly reached up to undo the top button of his shirt. “Like this?”

  She heard him suck in a sharp breath, a hint of color staining his cheeks.

  “Exactly like that.”

  She fumbled, her fingers trembling. It had been a long time. Too long.

  “Ash,” she breathed. The five years melted away, leaving Remi raw and vulnerable.

  They’d been so happy together. Everything was perfect. They’d savored being in each other’s company, whether it was making love or just watching an old movie and eating popcorn. They’d made plans for the future. They’d discussed where they would live and how many children they would have. They’d even talked about traveling around the world after they retired.

  Then the future had been smashed by the Butcher and she’d done exactly what her mother did.

  She’d retreated.

  It’d been the easiest thing to do to avoid the pain. Now she wasn’t sure she knew how to bring down the barriers that protected her.

  As if sensing her trepidation, Ash covered her hands with his own, helping her finish her task. Then he shrugged out of his shirt, tossing it aside before pressing her palms flat against his chest.

  “That’s better,” he murmured.

  The feel of his warm skin against her palms sent sizzles of anticipation searing through her. Like someone had just poured lava directly into her veins. She tilted back her head, meeting his smoldering gaze. “What do you want from me?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” he asked, his hands skimming down her body to grasp the hem of her sweater. Then, with one smooth motion, he had it yanked over her head.

  His smile widened as he cupped the soft swell of her breasts, barely hidden beneath the sheer lace of her bra.

  She shivered, her mouth suddenly dry. “Beyond the obvious.”

  “I don’t think you actually want me to tell you what I want,” he warned in soft tones. “Let’s just pretend this is about sex. At least for tonight.”

  “I . . .” His thumb rubbed the tip of her nipple, and Remi’s brain went blank. “I can’t think when you’re touching me.”

  “What’s to think about?” His lips brushed over her forehead before moving to nuzzle her temple. “We can keep this simple if you want.”

  Pleasure darted through her, making her toes curl and her back arch in silent invitation. Maybe he was right. This didn’t have to be complicated.

  Ash was still trying to figure out what he wanted to do with his future. Not to mention the fact that he was fully preoccupied with his hunt for the Butcher. She, on the other hand, was still working through her fear, and guilt, and her need to punish herself.

  Why not forget everything for a few hours and enjoy being together?

  “Simple is good,” she agreed, her hands exploring the hard muscles of his chest.

  “Mmm.” His lips skimmed over her cheek, finding the tender curve of her ear. “Just good? I’m trying for great.”

  She forced air in and out of her lungs. Ash didn’t have to try. He was naturally great. One touch—one kiss—and she was melting into a puddle of panting need.

  “You were always an overachiever,” she said in a soft whisper.

  He used the tip of his tongue to trace the shell of her ear. “It’s all a matter of dedication.”

  “Really?” She struggled to concentrate on his words. Her heart was thundering, her body zinging with electric jolts of anticipation.

  “Oh yeah.” His fingers moved to her back, easily unhooking her bra. “You have to be willing to practice. And practice. And . . .” He lifted his head, his words drying on his lips as he watched the scrap of lace fall away.

  “Practice?” she offered, a sense of joy spreading through her heart as he cupped her breasts with a gentle reverence. As if she was a rare, precious treasure.

  Remi melted a little more. Who wouldn’t love a man who made her feel so cherished?

  “Exactly,” he agreed, his voice husky.

  She trembled. “Do you practice a lot?” The words left her lips before she could halt them, and she grimaced with instant regret. Lifting her hand, she placed it across his mouth. “Sorry; don�
��t answer that.”

  He reached to wrap his fingers around her wrist, gently pulling her hand away from his face. “Remi, you know me,” he said.

  She nodded. She did know him. Even if he’d taken a lover during the time they were apart, he would have treated her with the same loyalty and respect he had always given her. Which meant that if he was willing to be with her, he wasn’t currently dating any other woman.

  He wouldn’t cheat. Or lie. Or pretend. Period.

  “I do, Ash,” she assured him, wrapping her arms around his neck.

  He groaned, burying his face in the curve of her throat. “It’s you. Only you.”

  She tilted her head to the side, allowing him greater access to her neck. “You left because I pushed you away.”

  He trailed a path of kisses to the hollow beneath her ear, his fingers busy undoing the zipper of her jeans. “I think we both needed time to process what happened.”

  “I’m not sure I did much processing,” she admitted, leaning back against the sofa cushions as Ash efficiently stripped off her remaining clothing. A cool breeze brushed over her bare skin, and instinctively, she glanced to the side to make sure the curtains were closed. She was still freaked out by the thought of her neighbor skulking around, peering in her windows. Once assured no one could see inside, she returned her attention to the man leaning over her. “I think it was more hiding and hoping I could convince myself it was all a bad dream,” she admitted.

  He shrugged, his gaze slowly moving over her naked form, as if reacquainting himself with every curve and angle. It was a little unnerving.

  “Whatever works,” he assured her.

  She smoothed her hands up and down his arms, gazing up at his gorgeous face. She’d pretended it was working. That she’d put the past behind her and was getting on with her life.

  But she’d been lying to herself and everyone else. She hadn’t been getting on with her life. She’d been sticking her head in the sand while the world passed her by.

  “I think it’s time now for the processing,” she told Ash.

  Something that might have been satisfaction flared through his eyes as he slowly lowered his head. “I can help with that,” he promised, brushing his lips lightly over her mouth.

  Back and forth. Back and forth. The touch was as gentle as the brush of a butterfly, but it ignited sparks that heated her blood to a fever pitch.

  Her toes did more curling. “More of your overachievement?” she teased, her fingers smoothing over his shoulders and down his back.

  She loved the erotic combination of his warm, silky skin and the hard muscles beneath. She loved his rich, male scent. And the weight of him pressing her into the cushions.

  “I’ll let you be the judge,” he assured her, his tongue touching the pulse that raced at the base of her neck.

  “Me?” She deliberately angled her hips to press against the thickening length of his erection. “You mean I get to give the teacher a grade?”

  Ash’s breath hissed between his teeth, a dark color staining his cheeks. “Remember my fragile ego,” he growled, kicking off his shoes before he was wrestling off his slacks and silk boxers.

  Remi’s lips curved into a smug smile as he muttered a curse. She liked his fumbling haste. It reassured her that she wasn’t the only one overcome with lust.

  “Fragile?” she mocked, allowing her gaze to take a slow, thorough survey of his body. He wasn’t quite as muscular as he’d been before. No doubt he spent more time sitting behind a desk. And there was more hair on his chest, while his shoulders looked wider. But he still had the sort of long, lean form that a man half his age would be proud to show off. “The Marcel men have steel-plated egos,” she reassured him.

  He grabbed her legs, stretching them across the sofa so she was lying flat against the cushions. Then, reaching down, he grabbed a condom from the back pocket of his slacks before he was settling on top of her.

  “There’re other parts of me that feel steel-plated at the moment.”

  Remi shifted beneath him, allowing him to settle between her parted thighs. She groaned at the feel of his hard arousal pressing in precisely the perfect spot.

  “So I noticed,” she said with a groan.

  His lips moved to trace a line of kisses down her nose and over her cheeks. At the same time, his hands moved over her body. He cupped her breasts, teasing her nipples into tight, aching beads. Then they moved down, following the curve of her waist before grasping her hips.

  “You, on the other hand, are soft and smooth and just as beautiful as I remember,” he said in a husky voice.

  Remi shivered, wondering if he could also feel the extra pounds she’d put on, and the lack of perkiness in her breasts. She wasn’t overly vain, but she had a mirror. She knew she was beginning to age. “It’s been five years.”

  He nuzzled his lips down the side of her throat. “I know.”

  “Things change,” she told him.

  “What things?” His voice was distracted, as if he was having a hard time following the conversation.

  Perhaps because he was distracted by the sight of her tightly budded nipples. He stared at them as if he was starving.

  “I’m not twenty-three anymore,” she warned.

  “If you’re worried you look any different to me, you can stop. I love every inch of you,” he rasped, bending his head to run a rough tongue over the tip of her breast. “And even when time actually does start to change things, I will still love every inch of you,” he assured her. “Including this.” He sucked her nipple between his lips, teasing the tender nub with his teeth and tongue until her fingernails were biting into the flesh of his lower back. “And this,” he told her, licking the lower curve of her breast before he kissed down the center of her midsection. He dipped his tongue into her belly button, making her squirm. “And this.” He headed downward.

  “Ash.” She reached down, her fingers threading through his hair as he tugged her legs wider, giving him full access.

  “I will always want you, Remi Walsh,” he swore, licking his tongue through her damp heat.

  Remi forgot her fears. Her vulnerabilities. And anything beyond the feel of the sweet, sweet pressure that was building with every sweep of his tongue.

  Her back arched, her fingers tugging at his hair as a violent blast of excitement exploded through her. This was exactly what she needed.

  She studied Ash’s flushed face, shivering at the raw tenderness that lurked in the depths of his eyes. There was no mistaking this was more than a one-night stand for him. But she refused to consider the future. Tonight was about pleasure, not emotions.

  Bliss cascaded through her as he continued to stroke over her clit. She felt like she was being seared from the inside. She needed more.

  She needed him buried deep inside her.

  “Please, Ash.”

  He chuckled. “That’s what I’m trying to do, Remi. Please you.”

  Her mouth went dry, that delicious force continuing to swell. “You please me anymore and it’s all going to be over.”

  “Then we’ll do it again,” he assured her, pushing his tongue inside her.

  Remi made a sound of stunned need, her gaze riveted to the sight of him lying between her legs.

  “Come for me, Remi,” he commanded, pressing his tongue deeper and deeper. As if his words were some sort of magical cue, a brutal orgasm burst through her, making her body shake from the sheer pleasure.

  She cried out, trembling from head to toe at the glorious release.

  Still, Ash wasn’t done. His tongue pushed in and out of her body, swiftly teasing her back toward another climax.

  She groaned as he turned his attention to her swollen nub and gently sucked it, at the same time sinking a finger deep into her body.

  Remi groaned. It was too much. He was bewitching her in a haze of sensual pleasure. How would she ever be the same?

  Seemingly satisfied that he’d completely decimated her, Ash began to slide up her body. “A
re you ready for me?”

  “I need you inside me.”

  He took time to kiss the tip of each tightly furled nipple as he slid on the condom. Remi grasped his shoulders and parted her legs so he could settle between them.

  She gazed up at the man who’d lingered in her fantasies even after she’d turned her back on him. His lean, male features were flushed with passion, the satin of his hair mussed from her fingers, his eyes smoldered with passion.

  He was her man. It was as primitive and simple as that.

  There would never be anyone who could replace him.

  The thought had barely formed when he plunged into her wet channel with one hard surge of his hips.

  She made a sound of raw pleasure at the sheer intimacy of their connection. It felt as if they were one.

  He stared down at her, his gaze lingering on her flushed cheeks. “Okay?”

  She nodded, unable to speak.

  Holding her gaze, he thrust his hips forward, rocking into her at a fierce, ruthless pace.

  Her nails sank into the soft flesh of his backside, her hips lifting off the sofa to meet his hard thrusts. Unbelievably, she felt another surge of hunger race through her. Clearly, she’d been needing this. More than she realized.

  He dipped his head down to claim her mouth with a kiss that demanded her complete surrender.

  She didn’t mind. In fact, she loved it. Remi wrapped her legs around his hips, bracing herself as another massive orgasm began to clench her lower muscles.

  “I’ve missed you, Remi,” he muttered against her lips, their bodies moving together with a primitive intensity. “I’ve missed us.”

  Her fingers tangled in his hair as his hands slipped beneath her hips to tilt her to an angle that allowed him to thrust even deeper.

  His cock hit a glorious spot deep inside her, sending her hurtling over the edge, the orgasm ripping through her as she cried out his name in dazed pleasure.

  Chapter Twenty-Two

  Jax arrived in front of the run-down apartment building, not surprised to discover it was shrouded in a grim silence. Just a couple of blocks away, the early rush hour had already started as people dashed to catch the bus or train to get to work on time. Here, however, very few had actual jobs. This was a place for those who were barely keeping a roof over their heads.